Garment carrying frame



Jan. 4, 1944.

w. H. BRACKEN 2,338,401

GARMENT CARRYING FRAME Filed July 3. 1942 Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES iTENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates broadly to garment supporting and carrying devices, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved frame adapted primarily, though not exclusively, for insertion within a hand bag or trunk with the garments supported on such frame. An important feature of the present invention consists in the provision of an improved garment hanger which forms no part of the carrying case, is in no way connected with an article of luggage, and which can serve as a garment hanger for general use or can be readily inserted within a suitcase or the like. A general object of the present invention is to provide means for carrying body garments withoutcausing the same to become wrinkled. Many of the modern traveling bags are provided with garment-supporting elements which are generally built in and become an integral part of the case. These structures are generally expensive in construction, complex in operation, and usually fail to accomplish their intended purpose unless the garments are packed by one having more than usual skill.

An object of the present invention is to provide a garment-supporting frame which can be used in any type of carrying case, means being provided for permitting every portion of the garments to be arranged in perfectly smooth relation before the frame is applied to the garments, that is to say, the coat is first arranged on a hanger which is completely removable from the frame, the trousers next arranged on top of the coat, both garments lying perfectly flat. The hanger structure is next snapped into position, without, however, disturbing the relative position of any part of the garments, particularly the coat sleeves. The only remaining step is to fold the lower portion of the garments over one horizontal bar of the frame, which is then placed upright with this bar uppermost, and the hanger element lowermost. The frame with the garments carried thereby is now placed in a suitable carrying case or trunk, preferably one having a suitably formed recess for receiving one or more of the frames without any considerable free play.

The advantages of a garment-supporting frame of this character with a readily detachable and attachable coat-hanger element will be readily appreciated by those familiar with the art. In all of the earlier devices, it was necessary to simultaneously adjust the coat to the garment hanger and the frame as Well, and the continuing presence of the frame always proved a deterrent to effective smoothing out of the garment. When the device of the present invention is to be employed, the garment may be thoroughly smoothed out while lying on a fiat surface, and when this has been accomplished, the frame is for the first time placed in position, thus avoiding any possibility of wrinkling of the garment since the relative positions of the various parts of the garment do not change after the garment has been initially smoothed out.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved garment-supporting frame which is light in weight and easily manipulated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger structure which can b used interchangeably in a plurality of types of carrying cases. It is particularly important for use in military service for aviators whose constant shifting requires carryin cases of differing capacities, and the change must in many instances be rapid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment frame capable of carrying an overcoat Without wrinkling the same. Garment supporting devices associated with suitcases and the like cannot accomplish this desired result.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of garment-supporting frame, with the detachable coat-hanger element carried thereon.

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified formof coat-hanger element inserted within a coat lying on a flat surface.

Fig. 4 shows the coat and the trousers superimposed upon the coat, and also the garmentsupporting frame having been moved into engagement with the coat-hanger element.

Fig. 5 shows the relative position of the parts of the garment as the same are being folded over the upper rail of the frame.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the garment completely arranged upon the frame and ready for insertion Within the carrying case.

The garment-supporting frame It is generally rectangular in shape and comprises horizontal rails I l and i2, and vertical rails l3 and M. Horizontal rail H occupies the lowermost position when viewed as in Fig. 1, although this becomes the upper rail when the frame is in garmentcarrying relationship and is ready to be inserted Within the carrying case. This rail, and horizontal rail l2, may, if desired, be substantially cir cular in transverse section, and are formed at their terminals with narrow, inwardly extending slots which receive the terminals of the vertical rails l3 and I4, which are shown as being rectangular in transverse section. Pins it at the corner sections of the frame secure the ter minals of vertical rails l3 and I4 within the slots I5, and thus provide a rigid framework. The four rails formed in the frame are preferably, though not necessarily, constructed of wood, although they may be constructed of plastic, metal, or other suitable materials. Any other suitable securing means for the corner sections may be provided. For most purposes, the horizontal rails are longer than the vertical rails since this arrangement is mo t convenient for mens suits, although this may be varied without departing from the invention.

The lower terminals of railsv l3 and i4, when viewed as in Fig. 1, are preferably flush with the outer surface of horizontal rail H, whereas at their opposite ends such rails extend beyond the outer surface of rail l2, as shown at ll. Thus, when the garments have been suitably placed upon the frame, and such frame inserted within the case, the projections l2 form feet which effectively space lower rail l2 from the lower wall of such case. Rail I2 is formed with a centrally disposed, reduced portion which receives a. hook-like element 2| carried by a coat-hanger structure 22. Hook element 2! is preferably made from plastic material, although it may also be formed from sheet metal or other suitable material, It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the hook is of such size and shape as to readily receive portion 20, although the fit is sufficiently tight as to prevent casual displacement, It is rigidly secured to coat-hanger element 22 by means of pins 24, one of which projects beyond the opposite surface of coat-hanger 22, and forms a pivot support for a hook 25 which, when it is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, may serve as a hook to support the frame in a closet or otherwise. Hanger 22 is of conventional configuration and is preferably made from plywood, sheet metal, plastics, or any other suitable material.

When it is desired to place garments upon the garment-supporting frame, coat-hanger element 22 is first inserted within the shoulder portions of the coat 23 which is occupying a flat position, as shown in Fig. 3. When in this position the sleeves 27 are preferably draped over the front of the coat, as shown. The trousers 2.! are next folded immediately below the pocket opening, and such trousers laid face downwardly on the coat, as shown in Fig. 4. Frame 50 is next moved into position wherein hook element 2! surrounds the reduced portion 20 at the center of rail 52, and the opposite rail H of the frame moved downwardly until it rests upon the trousers, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower portions of trousers 29 are next carefully folded over rail H, and sleeves 27 next folded over the rail, as shown in Fig. 5, care being taken not to disturb the smoothed-out position of both garments. Finally, the skirt portion of the coat is also folded over rail H, as shown in Fig. 8, and the frame is now ready to be inserted within the carrying case.

The modified hanger element shown in Fig. 3 includes the hanger 22, but in this instance the attaching means comprises a flexible strap 26 which may have suitable fastening means to encircle the lower rail of th frame, such as a snap fastener 23.

The present frame is designed primarily for mens suits and uniforms consisting of a coat of the usual length and the trousers, In the event that a topcoat is to be carried, the arrangement is the same except that the skirt portions of the coat are draped or folded over rail I2 and the frame positioned within the carrying case with this rail uppermost. It will be readily appreciated that this highly desirable result cannot be accomplished by the usual garment hanger attached to traveling bags, since there is no place wherein the lower portion of the long coat can be draped.

The usefulnesss of the present invention for men in the service, and aviators particularly, will be readily appreciated. Flyers are frequently transferred to different branches of the service calling for more or less garments as part of their standard equipment. For instance, when aboard aircraft carriers a greater number of garments must be carried and a special carrying case which can be folded into a small area when empty provided. Ihese changes must be made rapidly, and the garment frame of the present invention can be readily transferred from case to case, or they can be used for supporting garments on the wall or in a closet while the user is not in transit. When slipped into an enclosing envelope it affords a complete wardrobe closet in itself.

The embodiment of the invention described and shown herein is chosen only for illustration of one form of the invention, although it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is essential, however, that means he provided for attaching the frame to the hanger element with relative ease in order that the hanger be not disturbed in the process of attaching, for to do so would alter the position of the smoothed-out garments and thus defeat the primary object of the invention.

What I claim is:

A garment supporting and carrying device comprising a frame and a completely detachable coat hanger carried thereby, said frame being substantially rectangular in shape and including opposed horizontal rails and opposed vertical rails, said horizontal rails being substantially circular in transverse sections and having slots at their opposed terminals to receive and rigidly support the opposed terminals of the vertical rails, the vertical rails being provided with projections extending below the lower horizontal rail when the device is in garment carrying position, and forming legs for supporting the frame, said lower rail having a centrally disposed, reduced portion, means for supporting the garment hanger on such rail comprising a hook-shaped element secured to said hanger and adapted to be received upon the reduced portion, and to be rotatable relative thereto, whereby the hanger may be inserted within the coat to be carried, the trousers placed upon the coat in smoothed relationship, the hook-shaped element on the hanger then secured to the reduced portion of the lower rail, and the lower terminals of the garments folded over the upper rail.

WALLACE I-I. BRACKEN. 

